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Brain scans reveal how mindfulness calms the autistic mind

NCT ID NCT04017793

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Arizona State University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at how stress-reduction classes affect brain function in adults with autism. 108 participants were randomly assigned to either an 8-week mindfulness program or a relaxation and social support group. Researchers used brain scans and questionnaires to see if changes in the brain relate to feeling better and being more aware of emotions.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

108 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

May 2019

Finished

Dec 2024

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 to 89 years old, with a special focus on adults with ASD who are going to college given the additional stress of this phase in life. We are recruiting participants across a broad age range in order to maximize our ability to inform interventions for adults with ASD. The upper age limit of 89 years was selected so a de-identified dataset can be created with all participant ages included. * ASD diagnosis via gold-standard diagnostic assessments (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2). * Must be able to attend at least 7 of the 8 weekly intervention classes. * English speaking: Participants must be English-speaking because the screening and behavioral measures are in English (including the intelligence estimate). Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores \<70 will be excluded to minimize variability due to general cognitive functioning. * Report of any major medical illnesses, histories of seizures, or head trauma with loss of consciousness. These health factors can cause brain changes that would confound findings. * Concerns that the participant may not be able to complete the MRI neuroimaging requirements for the study, including claustrophobia or metal objects within the participant's body or eyes. Implanted metal objects may create a safety hazard in the powerful magnetic field during MRI imaging. * Pregnant women. MRI has no known effects on pregnancy or fertility. However, since we are not 100% certain MRI has no effects on a developing fetus, women who are pregnant may not participate in this study.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

autism spectrum disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Autism spectrum disorder

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Arizona State University

    Tempe, Arizona, 85281, United States

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